Evaluation of Growth and Fruit Quality of Cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) Irrigated with African Catfish Cultured Wastewater

This paper reports findings of an experiment carried out in a greenhouse to evaluate the growth and fruits quality of cucumber grown in plots irrigated with African catfish cultured wastewater compared with those irrigated with ordinary well water. Six circular African catfish culture tanks and six cucumber planter boxes were used for this experiment, three each for the fish cum cucumber integrated system and the control system of cucumber irrigated with ordinary well water. The results of the research indicated that fish cultured wastewater had a better influence on the plant height, the number, length, and diameterof leaves, as well as the diameter and length of the fruits. Six experts, each independently assessed fruits from the two treatments for juiciness, sweetness, taste and crispiness. The fruits were assessed by experts who though were aware of the purpose of the evaluation, did not know the identity of fruits they were assessing. The fish effluent fertigated cucumber fruits had a higher mean score in juiciness, sweetness, taste and crispiness. Wastewater from the African catfish production system thus exhibits the potential for reuse in the production of cucumber plants as it had no negative effect on the organoleptic quality of cucumber fruit produced. Keywords: Cucumis sativus, Fish, Growth, Yield, Wastewater

Dynamics of knockdown pyrethroid insecticide resistance alleles in a field population of Anopheles gambiae s.s. in southwestern Nigeria

Background & objectives: Pyrethroid insecticide resistance in the malaria vector Anopheles gambiaeGiles is mainly associated with reduced target site sensitivity arising from a single point mutation inthe sodium channel gene, often referred to as knockdown resistance (kdr). This resistance mechanismis widespread in West Africa and was reported for the first time in Nigeria in 2002. Here we presentchanges in the susceptibility/resistance status of the molecular ‘M’ and ‘S’ forms of An. gambiae andthe frequency of the kdr alleles from 2002–05.Methods: Adult anophelines were sampled quarterly inside human dwellings from January 2002 toDecember 2005 and adults reared from wild larvae were identified using morphological keys. Samplesbelonging to the An. gambiae complex were subjected to PCR assays for species identification anddetection of molecular ‘M’ and ‘S’ forms. Insecticide susceptibility tests were carried out usingstandard WHO procedures and test kits only on 2–3 days old adult An. gambiae s.s. reared fromlarval collections. The kdr genotypes were determined in both live and dead specimens of An. gambiaes.s. using alleles-specific polymerase chain reaction diagnostic tests.Results: The overall collection showed that the molecular ‘S’ form was predominant (>60%) but theproportions of both forms in the mosquito populations from 2002–05 were not statistically different.Both forms also occurred throughout the period without apparent relationship to wet or dry season.Insecticide susceptibility tests did not show any significant increase in the resistance status recordedfor either Permethrin or DDT from 2002–05, rather, an improvement in the susceptibility status ofthe mosquitoes to these insecticides was observed from 2004–05 relative to the tests performed in2002–03.Conclusion: The proportion of the molecular ‘M’ and ‘S’ form of An. gambiae and the kdr frequencieshave not increased significantly from 2002 when it was first reported in Nigeria. However, the findingson susceptible mosquitoes exhibiting the kdr gene need further investigation. Further monitoring ofthis may provide additional information on the ongoing debate on the possibility of restriction ingene flow and reproductive barriers in these sympatric taxa

Rural dwellers involvement in small scale poultry farming in Oluyole Local Government Area of Oyo State, Nigeria

Poultry production at all levels appears to be lucrative and profitable but many factors appear to limit the involvement of rural dwellers in this sector. This study was carried out at Oluyole Local Government Area Oyo State to assess the level of involvement of rural dwellers in small scale poultry farming. Some parts of Oluyole local government were purposely selected for this study because of higher  concentration of rural dwellers that are involved in poultry production. A total of ninety five respondents were sampled and had a well-structured questionnaire administered to them to determine their socio economics characteristic, their level of involvement, benefit  derived and constraint faced in poultry farming. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics of frequency counts, percentage and  means, Chi-square and Pearson Product Moment Correlation (PPMC) at 0.05% level of significance. The results show that majority of the respondents were males (61.1%), married (68.8%) and have tertiary education (59.1%). Majority (50.5%) of the respondents were between the ages of 31-45years. Socio-economic characteristics such as age, region, sex, educational level, household size and income had no significant relationship with the respondent’s level of involvement in small scale poultry farming (P<0.05). Results on level of involvement shows that most (48.8%) of the sampled correspondents were involved in boilers production. The study also shows that the benefit derived in poultry farming remained the same regardless of the level of involvement of the farmers in various poultry activities, with r –value (0.177), p-value (0.089) indicating that the relationship is not significant (P<0.01), it also indicated that the relationship between the  constraints facing the respondents and their level of involvement is not significant with r –value (0.154). Also, the major constraints facing the respondents included difficulty in accessing loan and quality feed. Government should therefore make loan facilities at affordable interest rate while all the stake holders should work together to improve farmers’ access to quality feed, vaccine, technical know-how and adequate extension workers

Perception of white meat consumption among urban households in Ibadan North Local Government of Oyo State

This study examines the consumer’s perception of white meat among household in Ibadan north local government area of Oyo state, Nigeria. Multi-stage sampling was used through questionnaire to gather information from 110 respondents used as a sample size for the study. Data were analyzed through the use of descriptive statistics tools such as frequency and percentage, while inferential statistics such as chi-square and PPMC were used for the hypotheses. The result of the study revealed that majority (63.6%) of the respondents were married, also in their active age (93.2%) and engaged in trading and civil service work as their primary occupation. Also, majority (55.5%) had up to secondary education and tertiary school level with household size 1-5.The result further revealed that 52.4% of the respondents had unfavourable perception of white meat consumption while 47.6% had favourable perception. Also, better cholesterol content (53.6%) and reduced health risk (51.8%) were some of the perceived benefits of white meat considered by respondents. Constraints such as high cost of white meat (99%) and low income (88%) were considered as major constraints to white meat consumption. Chi-square analysis revealed that marital status(X2=18.693, P=0.028), education(X2=17.753, P=0.038) and primary occupation(X2=18.266, P=0.032) of respondents were found to have significant relationship with their perception of white meat consumption at 0.05 level. Also, PPMC analysis showed that there was relationship between perceived benefits and perception for white meat at 0.05 level of significant. The study, therefore, recommends that the enlightenment programmes on nutritional benefit of white meat consumption should be promoted for consumers to have right perception

Curative Effect of Aqueous Seed Extract of Citrus paradisi against Carbon Tetrachloride-Induced Nephrotoxicity in Wistar Rats

Carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) is a possible nephrotoxin that leads to grievous and harmful chemical toxicity. C.paradisi contains phytochemicals,vitamins and flavonoids which possesses strong anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties. This study investigated the serum electrolytes levels and the efficacy of C. paradisi to ameliorate the effect of carbon tetrachloride-induced nephrotoxicity in Wistar rats. The aqueous seed extract of C. paradisi was administered at a dose of 125-500 mg/kg body weight. Thirty albino rats were assigned into 6 groups of 5 rats in each. Group I was the 1ml/kg normal saline while group II was intraperitoneally treated with 3 mL/kg of CCl4 1 hour before oral treatment (p.o.) with 10 mL/kg of normal saline while groups III-VI rats were intraperitoneally treated with 3 mL/kg 30% CCl4 1 hour before oral treatment with 10 mg/kg of ascorbic acid. Groups III-VI were administered with 125 mg/kg, 250 mg/kg, and 500 mg/kg of aqueous seed extract of C.paradisi. Results shows an increase in all the serum electrolytes except in serum phosphate as a result of contamination. The result insinuated that kidney damage was induced in the rats with ascorbic acid attenuating the effect of carbon tetrachloride at each dose. The treatment showed that aqueous seed extract of C. paradisi controls an increase in serum electrolyte

Population dynamics of Chrysichthys nigrodigitatus (Lacépède, 1803) in Ikere-gorge, Oyo State, Nigeria

The growth and mortality parameters of Chrysichthys nigrodigitatus were estimated to assess the sustainability of its exploitation in Ikere-gorge, Oyo State, Nigeria. A total of 1210 of Chrys­ichthys nigrodigitatus were sampled from fishermen catches between January, 2017 and Decem­ber, 2018. C. nigrodigitatus were exploited with gillnet, cast net and traps (Malian trap net and bamboo). Total lengths were measured with fish measuring board. The FAO-ICLARM Stock Assessment Tool (FiSAT II) software was used to analyze length-frequency data of the fish. The estimated growth parameters are: asymptotic length is 60.9 cm, growth coefficient is 0.96, optimum length is 38.51 cm; length at maturity is 33.44 cm while length-at-first-capture is 12.62 cm. The estimated mortality parameters are: total mortality is 3.29 per year, natural mortality is 1.43 per year and fishing mortality is 1.86. It was observed that C. nigrodigitatus of Ikere-gorge were more vulnerable to exploitation at sizes less than their length at maturity. Likewise, the ex­ploitation rate (E = 0.57 yr-1) is greater than sustainable exploitation rate (Emax = 0.46 yr-1). This shows that exploitation of C. nigrodigitatus in Ikere-gorge is not sustainable. Therefore, there is need to reduce fishing pressure on C. nigrodigitatus to ensure its sustainability in Ikere-gorge

Development and evaluation of fortified tapioca meal with coconut and banana pulp.

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Classical Evaluation of Zero, Incomplete and Complete Treatment Effects on SEIRS Model Dynamics

In this research work, we extend the classical SEIR model to accommodate the effect of zero, incomplete and complete treatment on the dynamics of the model. The basic reproduction number (Ro) of the model dynamics is obtained by using the next generation matrix approach. The disease free equilibrium point of the model is found to be locally asymptotically stable if Ro < 1. A suitable Lyapunov function is constructed to determine the global stability of the disease free equilibrium point. Numerical simulation is carried out to determine the effect on the compliance to the treatment  prescription. Keywords: Equilibrium, Lyapunov function, Global stability, Simulation &nbsp

Evaluation of physical, functional and pasting properties of fermented cassava flour (Lafun) from markets in southwest Nigeria

The physical, functional and pasting properties of fermented cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) flour (lafun) from 10 different sources in Southwest Nigeria were evaluated by standard methods. The fermented flour was collected in polyethylene bags (500 g) each from the processing centers and transferred to the laboratory of the Department of Food Technology, Yaba College of Technology, Lagos, Nigeria to determine these properties. The results obtained showed total weight of the foreign matters (including animal droppings, feathers, insect parts, hair and stones) varied from 24% to 42%, the water absorption capacity varied between 0.71 and 0.89, the swelling power which is the amount of water absorbed by 1g of flour ranged from 26.80% to 30.10% while the bulk density ranged from 0.29 g/ ml to 0.60 g/ml. Final viscosity of the samples ranged between 157.92 RVU and 274.33 RVU. All these results showed that traditional method of processing fermented cassava flour (lafun) in Southwest Nigeria had significant effect on the physical and functional properties measured and the quality of the resultant lafun flour. There is need for proper awareness on Good Manufacturing Practices among the traditional processors from the health and product safety standpoint.Keywords: Cassava flour, lafun, swelling, viscosity, health, safety, foreign matte

Reference Growth Values for Adolescents Aged 12-18 Years in a Nigerian Community

The purpose of this study was to generate growth reference values of Nigerian adolescents from Sagamu, present percentile charts for BMI, triceps skinfold (TSF), abdominal skinfold (ASF) and body weight and height and to compare their BMI 85th and 95th percentiles with those of USA and Cyprus. The study was a cross-sectional survey, including a representative sample of 1638 healthy adolescents in Sagamu ages 12-18 years, who were assessed during 2006 school year. Their body weight, height, BMI, triceps and abdominal skinfolds were assessed. Crude percentiles of these variable and BMI curves are presented. The mean weight, height, BMI, TSF and ASF were 46.2±11.7, 1.55±.32, 18.92±2.83, 6.4±3.0 and 6.9±2.6 for all males respectively while that of all females were 46.1±8.2, 1.55±.07, 19.19±2.54, 14.1±5.3 and 12.7±4.3 respectively. The 85th and 95th BMI percentile values are lesser in Nigerian adolescents in all ages compared with their peers in USA and Cyprus. The growth reference values in this study may provide a useful tool to assess body fat and nutrition status of Nigerian adolescents in Ogun state and possibly south western Nigeria in the absence of national references